PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What is a common treatment for urinary retention?

1. Antibiotics

2. Foley catheter

3. Alpha blockers

4. Stool softeners

The correct answer is: Foley catheter

A Foley catheter is often the standard treatment for urinary retention, especially in cases where immediate relief is necessary. This device is a flexible tube inserted into the bladder through the urethra to facilitate urinary drainage. It is particularly useful in acute situations where the patient is unable to void due to obstruction, neurological dysfunction, or following surgery. In cases of urinary retention, the priority is to relieve the pressure and discomfort caused by the buildup of urine. The Foley catheter effectively allows for direct drainage of urine from the bladder, restoring normal bladder function and alleviating any associated pain or complications such as infection or bladder distension. While other treatments like alpha blockers may be appropriate for certain causes of chronic urinary retention, such as bladder outlet obstruction due to prostate enlargement, they do not provide immediate relief. Antibiotics are relevant if there is an infection but do not address the retention itself, and stool softeners have no relevance in the discussion of urinary retention treatment. Thus, the Foley catheter stands out as the go-to intervention for urgent management of urinary retention.